Dillon stiffened. “What the blazes has that got to do with me?” he demanded.
Joe picked at the grass, keeping his head turned. “Why, I guess maybe you're right. It ain't got a lot to do with you, but I just told you.”
Dillon said, “See here, Chester, I gave you that dough to keep us under cover. If you've lost it, that's too bad, but it ain't our funeral, see?”
Joe shifted the conversation. “Ma tells me you've made a swell job of work with the old fence,” he said to Roxy.
Roxy shrugged. “I'd go nuts tryin' to pass the time. I enjoyed doin' it.”
Dillon said between his teeth, “Suppose you skip this an' tell me what's been goin' on.”
“Sure I'll tell you.” Joe leant back on his elbows, raising his skull-like face to the sun. “Well, you know how it is, the newspapers have been playin' the Hurst murder up. The Feds have been lookin' for you. Comin' round asking questions. Huntin' around; you know how it is.”
Dillon said, “They don't suspect you?”
Joe shook his head. “Did I tell you they're offering five grand reward for you guys?”
Both Roxy and Dillon stiffened. “Five thousand bucks?” Roxy said unsteadily.
“That's right,” Joe said: “I guess they sure want you guys bad.”
There was a heavy silence while the two turned it over. Joe went on, “I rigger to some people five grand would come very nice.”
He got to his feet. “I gotta get back to Ma. She gets mad as hell if I don't hang around when I'm up here. I'll be seein' you boys before I go.”
He went away, his long thin legs moving stiffly through the grass.
Roxy said in a low voice, “Did you get it?”
Dillon clenched his fists. “He ain't gettin' another dime outta me,” he said. “The double-crossin' rat.”
“Listen, Nick, don't do anythin' foolish. If we don't square this guy, he's goin' to squeal. He said as much, didn't he?”
“How the hell do we know they're offerin' a reward?” Dillon raved. “Suppose they ain't lookin' for us an' this is a frame to skin me?”
Roxy shook his head. He was nervous. “I'd hate to call his bluff,” he said. “We don't stand much chance if the Feds come up here.”
Dillon took his roll of money out of his pocket and thumbed it through. He had two thousand dollars and two fifty notes.
Roxy watched him. “Maybe he'd take the two grand an' call it square.”
Dillon's hand shook with fury. “We give him this dough an' he can still turn us in,” he said.
Roxy shook his head. “I guess he ain't that low. I know Joe, he wouldn't do that.”
Dillon got to his feet. “I do the payin' an' save your hide,” he snarled. “Ain't you got any dough?”
Roxy looked uncomfortable. “Hell, Bud,” he said, “I ain't gotta nickel. I'm in this with you.... Didn't I tip you what was happenin'?”
Dillon shrugged and walked towards the house. Joe saw them coming and came out walking to meet them.
Dillon said slowly, “Listen. This five grand reward comes tough on a guy like you. We wouldn't like you to lose by it.”
Joe's eyes glistened. “You got me wrong, Mister,” he said hastily. “I ain't hankerin' after the reward. I guess I'm glad to hide you guys up. I only said I'd lost the dough you gave me an' was a bit short.”
Dillon's eyes hated him. “We figgered maybe two grand would set you up.”
Dillon saw Joe hesitate. He saw the look of doubt in his eyes. He thought, the bastard's going to turn it down. He went on hastily, “Two grand can buy plenty.”
Joe said, “Sure, it's mighty fine of you guys.” His long bony hand came out. Dillon gave him the small roll of notes. Joe counted them, his hand shaking a little. The greed in his eyes scared Roxy.
Dillon watched him. “I expect some work for that,” he said, keeping the rage out of his voice with an effort. “Don't go makin' mistakes, will you? We got your ma an' pa up here, Joe.”
Joe's eyes opened. “You ain't got nothin' to worry about,” he said quickly. “You've fixed me up fine.... The Feds won't bother you if I can help it.”
“You'd better see to that,” Dillon said viciously.
“Sure, sure,” Joe said hastily, “I'll see to that okay.” He seemed in a sudden hurry to leave. He ran towards his car and drove off rapidly down the dirt road.
Ma Chester came out and stood on the stoop. Her face had a sly expression as she watched Joe drive away. Chrissie came round the side of the house, calling to Joe loudly. Joe didn't look back.
Chrissie said, “Why's he gone like that? Ain't he comin' back?”
Ma Chester stepped down and went over to her. Roxy heard her say, “Joe's got business on... he'll be along in a little while. You oughtta be mighty proud of your Joe, he's a smart guy.”
Her little pebbly eyes mocked the two as they stood watching her uneasily.
* * * * *
Dusk was falling. Dillon sat on the stoop. His eyes were watching the sun sinking behind the trees. He was seriously worried. One hundred bucks was all he had left. One hundred bucks was as useful as a horse's tail.
He got to his feet restlessly. This dump was driving him crazy. He looked around for Roxy, but could see no sign of him in the thickening dusk. It was still very close, and a faint hot breeze fanned his face.
He wandered round the shack, glancing in the windows. He saw Ma Chester busy with a flat-iron. For a moment he stood looking at her, then his eyes shifted to old man Chester hunched up over the stove. Shrugging, he wandered on. The next window was a little higher, and he had to stretch to see in. One look made him stiffen to attention.
Chrissie was moving about in the dim light of a flickering candle, undressing. She pulled her clothes off with difficulty, her fingers fumbling awkwardly with the buttons.
Dillon remained there watching, until she blew the light out. A primitive animal feeling for her gripped him, so that he could only stay there staring into the blackness of the room. The sudden realization that he had been cooped up in this shack for so many days without a woman came upon him with paralysing violence.
He was still standing there peering into the darkness when Roxy found him. Roxy said quietly, “What the hell you doin' here?”
Dillon started round. He looked at Roxy uneasily.
“I've been lookin' for you,” he said, his mind still far away with his thoughts.
Roxy looked up at Chrissie's window. His face hardened.
“You didn't think I was in with the kid?” he said softly.
“Kid?” Dillon sneered. “She ain't no kid... she's a woman.”
Roxy stretched out a hand and took Dillon's coat front. “Lay off that, Dillon,” he said. “By God! Don't you start anythin' with that girl. She's good an' she's simple.... I won't stand for it.”